Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona: Copa del Rey Odds, Live-Stream Info, Preview

Barcelona's route to the 2020 Copa del Rey is not going to be straightforward, with a trip to Athletic Bilbao standing between them and the semi-finals.

The Blaugrana coasted into the last eight, beating Leganes 5-0 in the round of 16. They also warmed up for Thursday's showdown with a 2-1 win over Levante in La Liga on Sunday.

After a brilliant start to the season, Athletic have found wins difficult to come by of late. They advanced to the quarter-finals on penalties having been held to a 0-0 draw at Tenerife and have gone seven matches without a victory in the Spanish top flight.

Nevertheless, the supporters should make a hostile environment for their illustrious visitors at the San Mames Stadium.

Here are the key details ahead of what's set to be a fascinating contest on Thursday night.

Odds

Athletic win (37-10)

Draw (13-5)

Barcelona win (11-13)

Odds courtesy of Oddschecker.

Date: Thursday, February 6

Time: 8 p.m. (GMT), 3 p.m. (ET)

Live Stream: ESPN Plus (U.S.)

It's been a mixed campaign for Barcelona in the Copa this season, although they have managed to advance to the last eight with wins over Ibiza and Leganes.

They were forced to come from behind against Ibiza, though, with Antoine Griezmann's brace sparing their blushes after a poor performance; against Leganes, however, they turned on the style, with Lionel Messi making his first appearance in the competition.

The forward was on target twice in that encounter, as Barcelona set up their trip to Bilbao in the last eight:

It will be intriguing to see if manager Quique Setien calls on Messi again for this fixture. While the team will be keen to win the cup, La Liga and the UEFA Champions League will remain the priorities for Barcelona.

The fixture list will become a lot more congested in the coming months as a result, and Setien's rotation skills will be tested. It means he may lean on some young players, including Ansu Fati.

The winger was the star of the show on Sunday against Levante, twice finishing after latching on to pinpoint Messi passes. The 17-year-old made history with his quick-fire brace:

Per Spanish football writer Dermot Corrigan, Fati is relishing operating alongside Messi at the moment:

If he does feature on Thursday, the teenager will need to be part of a Barcelona attack that functions well if they are to get the better of their opponents. While Athletic have been struggling, they remain one of the best defensive teams in La Liga, with just 17 goals leaked in 22 top-flight matches.

Athletic will be relying heavily on Inaki Williams if they are to cause problems in attack, with his speed and close control being devastating when he's on form.

Barcelona have looked vulnerable to rapid transitions at times under Setien, and they don't appear totally comfortable at the back. That should make for an entertaining match, but it's one Barcelona should just about edge.

Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1-3 Barcelona